Our Carnival Venezia B2B - 21 days of "Fun Italian Style" (with pics) - 9/23/23

[Jamman54]

I go up to the Java Blue Café for my morning coffee, and then come back to the cabin to pack our beach bags for today. We will be going to the Sunscape Resort, Spa, & Casino which is located near Mambo Beach. We have all-inclusive day passes, which at $125 /pp is a little steep, but we’ve heard good things about this resort so we’re going to head over and check it out.

 

Here are a few views of Willemstad, Curacao taken from our balcony…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking over at the Queen Juliana Bridge……

 

 

We made our way down to the Lobby Bar to wait for the ship to clear. At 7:45am Cruise Director Joey told everyone there that we could leave the ship. He then made the announcement to the rest of the ship…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

The head start meant we were once again some of the first to get off the ship, and we were the first to get to the taxi stand. When we told them where we were going they offered us a choice. For $8 /pp we could take the van, but we would have to wait for the van to fill up before they left, or they could take just the two of us for $30. We chose the $30. Time wasted is less time drinking! So off we went. Here is a view of the Venezia taken as we drove over the Queen Juliana Bridge…..

 

 

We arrived at the Sunscape Resort a little after 8am……

 

 

We checked in and paid our balance. They held on to our Sail & Sign cards, and we had to leave a $20 /pp deposit for our towels, which we would get back at the end of the day. Here is a map of the property….. 

 

 

Patti took a few pictures inside the lobby area of the Sunscape Resort…..

 

 

 

 

 

First order of business would be to get chairs by the pool, while I went to the towel hut and picked up our towels. On her way to the pool Patti took these pictures of the grounds…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…….

[Jamman54]

Here is the Towel Hut where I picked up our towels…..

 

 

Patti has made it to the pool area. Here are some views of the swim-up bar, hot tubs, and pools…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patti has picked our spot for the day…..

 

 

We head over to the nearby World Café for the breakfast buffet…..

 

 

Though not as extensive as the Barcelo in Aruba, there are still plenty of choices…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are some more buffet views……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my plate…..

 

 

This is Patti’s plate…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

The bar doesn’t open for another half hour, but soft drinks and water are available. I’m going to take a dip in the ocean. I love that the beach is protected by a breakwater, so it’s easier for us old guys with bad legs to get in and out…..

 

 

 

Patti heads past the Bluewater Grill which is right on the beach…..

 

 

 

 

In the distance you can see the Carnival Venezia docked in Willemstad…..

 

 

The water is so clear that you can see the fish swimming by…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Patti begins her tour of the property. She passes an area where you have various activities…..

 

 

 

 

 

There is a Teen Club and the outside Starlight Lounge for the adults…..

 

 

 

Here are some more pool area views…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

The bar is now open. I take my first Amstel into the pool…..

 

 

Patti is off to explore some more. Here is the gym…..

 

 

 

 

 

The Entertainment Schedule….

 

 

Here is the smoking section…..

 

 

Here is some flora & fauna…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are a few random shots as she heads down to the other end of the property.....

 

 

 

 

 

Patti scopes out the Sun Club area…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

Someone’s feeding the iguana…..

 

 

 

 

Patti heads back to the pool…..

 

 

Patti stops at the bar for a Malibu bay breeze…..

 

 

 

Today’s Activity Board…..

 

 

The Sunscape Entertainment Team are playing some tunes….

 

 

There are games for young and old around the pool…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[MeganGC1983]

12 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Someone’s feeding the iguana…..

 

 

 

 

Patti heads back to the pool…..

 

 

Patti stops at the bar for a Malibu bay breeze…..

 

 

 

Today’s Activity Board…..

 

 

The Sunscape Entertainment Team are playing some tunes….

 

 

There are games for young and old around the pool…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

I just knew I’d see iguanas today! 😍 Looks like a great resort. Do you think you got your money’s worth?

[MeganGC1983]

On 11/4/2023 at 5:24 PM, Jamman54 said:

Patti continues with her tour…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

We ate at Pelican’s Pier in Jan. 2022. Enjoyable sunset dinner. 

[TNVolnteerCruiser]

14 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I just knew I’d see iguanas today! 😍 Looks like a great resort. Do you think you got your money’s worth?

Inquiring minds want to know.  I wondered the same thing.

[Saint Greg]

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

 

 

 

 

Alcohol, rock climbing, rifle shooting, and archery. What could go wrong?

[Jamman54]

Just now, Saint Greg said:

Alcohol, rock climbing, rifle shooting, and archery. What could go wrong?

That's calm compared to drinking beer and throwing axes! 😁

[Jamman54]

1 hour ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I just knew I’d see iguanas today! 😍 Looks like a great resort. Do you think you got your money’s worth?

 

1 hour ago, TNVolnteerCruiser said:

Inquiring minds want to know.  I wondered the same thing.

We enjoyed the resort,  but we probably just broke even, which was okay. 😎

[Jamman54]

1 hour ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I just knew I’d see iguanas today! 😍 Looks like a great resort. Do you think you got your money’s worth?

You must have missed it. I dedicated post # 449 to you. 😁

[lasvegascruising]

Have you two ever stayed at an all inclusive resort?  If so, thoughts?  Someday I would like to, but I think we would be bored.  One thing I love about cruising is that everyone is on vacation having fun.  The laughing, smiles and happiness just flow all around the ship.

[pe4all]

7 hours ago, lasvegascruising said:

Have you two ever stayed at an all inclusive resort?  If so, thoughts?  Someday I would like to, but I think we would be bored.  One thing I love about cruising is that everyone is on vacation having fun.  The laughing, smiles and happiness just flow all around the ship.

When our kids were small (4 and 7) we used to go only to all-inclusives - stayed at around 10 of them over a few years. (Bahamas, Jamaica, Aruba, DR, GT, etc.) They were perfect for us back then - plenty of kids activities, and adults activities also. Since the kids were small one was free, and the other 1/2 price.  However, by the end of one week we were kinda "bored" - even with leaving the resorts and going on excursions off-property.  Then one year we had one booked in Mexico, and a hurricane wiped it out 1 month before we were to leave.  I was scrambling to find a replacement, when I saw a great Carnival cruise on a new ship! (CCL Liberty)  After that cruise no one wanted to do an all-inclusive.  The kids (7 and 10 at the time) loved the kids clubs on the ships, and we loved going from port to port.  To this day we have not been back to an all-inclusive - and our "kids" are now 32 and 35!

Edited November 7, 2023 by pe4all

[Jamman54]

8 hours ago, lasvegascruising said:

Have you two ever stayed at an all inclusive resort?  If so, thoughts?  Someday I would like to, but I think we would be bored.  One thing I love about cruising is that everyone is on vacation having fun.  The laughing, smiles and happiness just flow all around the ship.

No we haven't. After a couple of days we would probably be bored. 

[MeganGC1983]

10 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

You must have missed it. I dedicated post # 449 to you. 😁

Headed back. 

[MeganGC1983]

51 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

No we haven't. After a couple of days we would probably be bored. 

Patti would walk the whole thing in 1 day and be ready for the next port. 😆

[MeganGC1983]

On 11/4/2023 at 3:41 PM, Jamman54 said:

It’s so hard to decide what you want to eat. Here are Patti’s plates…..

 

 

  

Here are my plates…….

 

 

 

Our bellies full from our great breakfast, we head outside. Right outside the door there is a rock garden where all these critters live. This is for you Megan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

How did I miss that?! There will be iguana hunting on the Tribe cruise!! 😆

[x lindsay x]

I just noticed in the Fun Times that the operating times for the bars are not listed, and the note to check the app for more opening times. Do you have any idea what bar opened up first in the morning? On most ships its the red frog bar in the lido area which makes it easy to grab a screwdriver with breakfast. 

 

Loving the review and the pictures!

[Jamman54]

27 minutes ago, x lindsay x said:

I just noticed in the Fun Times that the operating times for the bars are not listed, and the note to check the app for more opening times. Do you have any idea what bar opened up first in the morning? On most ships its the red frog bar in the lido area which makes it easy to grab a screwdriver with breakfast. 

 

Loving the review and the pictures!

The Lobby Bar and RoCoco (Lido) opened at 7am. The Burano Bar (Lido Aft) opened at 8am. 

[Jamman54]

Patti is going to go to the top floor of the Royal Tower and get some “aerial” views……

 

 

 

 

Here are some Sunscape Resort views from up top….

 

 

 

 

There are our chairs by the pool…..

 

 

There is the Venezia in the distance……

 

 

Patti looks in the other direction and can see all the action over at Mambo Beach…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……